Globe Telecom is expanding high-speed internet access across Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (Basulta), bringing faster, more reliable connectivity to households, local enterprises, and underserved communities in the region.
At the center of this expansion is Globe’s 48-core, 175-kilometer Submarine Cable Project linking Zamboanga to Isabela City and extending to Sulu. The initiative covers submarine cable installation, inland and fronthaul facilities, landing stations, access transport, and the deployment of core and access network nodes to support both mobile and broadband services.
“This is more than infrastructure—this is a bridge to opportunity,” said Globe President and CEO Carl Cruz. “With data use now exceeding 30GB per user monthly, we are expanding fiber and broadband to connect homes, empower small businesses, and drive the digital economy.”
The submarine cable survey is set to begin in early 2026, with full construction expected by mid-2027. Once completed, Isabela City will become a major, resilient hub for high-capacity internet in BASULTA, complementing government efforts under the National Broadband Plan to deliver connectivity to Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs).
“Reliable connectivity is transformative,” added Jowin Marquez, Senior Director and Territory Lead for Globe’s Network Technical Group. “It enables education, supports local enterprises, and helps communities participate fully in the digital economy.”
Globe’s ongoing modernization program has already migrated over 600 towns in 70 provinces to full fiber, replacing aging copper lines to improve speeds, stability, and energy efficiency. Over the last three years, Globe invested ₱228 billion in capital expenditures and ₱236 billion in operating expenses to strengthen and future-proof its network.
GFiber Prepaid—Globe’s no-contract, reloadable home broadband—continues to grow rapidly, expanding 53 percent in early 2025 alone and now reaching 400,000 of Globe’s 1.83 million broadband subscribers.
Through these investments, Globe is laying down digital bridges that uplift communities, stimulate local economies, and move the Philippines closer to a fully connected future.
